Stacking tab device

ABSTRACT

A slacking tab device includes a first tab member and a second tab member. The first tab member forms a first angle therewith and the second tab member forms a second angle less than the first angle. The first tab member contacts a media. The second tab member receives the media from the first tab member and guides the media to an output region.

BACKGROUND

Media stacking systems including scanners, printers, and the like, transport media to an output region. In the output region, the media is placed in a stackable arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting examples are described in the following description, mad with reference to the figures attached hereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. Dimensions of components and features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. Referring to the attached figures:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a stacking tab device according to an example.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a stacking tab device according to an example.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the stacking tab device of FIG. 2 according to an example.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a media stacking system according to an example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a portion of the media stacking system of FIG. 4 including a stacking tab device according to an example.

FIGS. 6A-6D are schematic views illustrating an operation of the media stacking system of FIG. 5 according to examples.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a media stacking system according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Media stacking systems such as printers, scanners, multi-functional systems, and the like, process media. That is, media input into the respective system is processed and transported to an output tray in a stackable arrangement. For example, in a printer, media may be input therein to be printed on. The printed media, however, may include curled ends due to the toner, the ink, and the like, provided thereon. Subsequently, the printed media is directed to an output tray. Stacking tabs direct the printed media into the output tray to be stacked therein. However, curled printed media creates space between each other when stacked therein. That is, curling of the printed media results in an inefficient use of space for additional pages of printed media in the output tray. Further, the printed media stack that extends above a level at which an additional page of printed media is directed to the output tray results in misplacement of the incoming page underneath a previously stacked page, a jam, or an inability to be stacked thereon. Further, shrinking printing systems have limited the amount of room for printed media to be stacked.

In examples, a stacking tab device is usable with a media stacking system. The stacking tab device includes a connection member, a first tab member, and a second tab member. The connection member connects to a media stacking system. The first tab member extends downward from the connection member to form a first angle therewith. The first tab member contacts a media. The second tab member extends downward from the connection member to form: a second angle therewith less than the first angle. Subsequently, the second tab member receives the media from the first tab member and guides the media to an output region.

That is, the second tab member is used at a steep angle to apply a greater force on a curled end of the media to compress the curl. In some examples, a length of the second tab member Is shorter than a length of the first tab member. Compression of the curled end allows additional space for the media to be stacked in the output region. Whereas, the first tab member is at a shallower angle to guide the media to prevent excessive impact with the second tab member. Thus, the stacking tab device increases the amount of media that is stackable in a specific space of the output tray, and the like. Consequently, the stacking tab device enables media to be stacked in a space that nominally is shorter than the height of a media stack having media with curls. Accordingly, the stacking tab device acts to reduce the effects of curl on a media stack to enable the media to be stacked in large quantities in a low profile space.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a stacking tab device according to an example. The stacking tab device 100 may be usable with a media stacking system. Referring to FIG. 1, the stacking tab device 100 Includes a connection member 10, a first tab member 11, and a second tab member 12. The connection member 10 connects to a media stacking system. In some examples, the connection member 10 may removably connect to the media stacking system. The first tab member 11 extends downward from the connection member 10 to form a first angle therewith. The first tab member 11 contacts a media. The second tab member 12 extends downward from the connection member 10 to form a second angle therewith. The second angle is less than the first angle. The second tab member 12 receives the media from the first tab member 11 and guides the media to an output region.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a stacking tab device according to an example. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the stacking tab device of FIG. 2 according to an example. The stacking tab device 200 is usable with a media slacking system. The stacking tab device 200 includes the connection member 10, the first tab member 11, and the second tab member 12 previously described with respect to the stacking tab device 100 of FIG. 1, Referring to FIGS, 2-3, in some examples, the stacking tab device 200 includes a connection member 10, a first tab member 11, a second tab member 12, and a third tab member 23, The second tab member 12 includes an angled end portion 22 b.

In some examples, the connection member 10, the first tab member 11, the second tab member 12, and the third tab member 23 are integrated with each other. That is, in some examples, the stacking tab device is a single, unitary device. In some examples, the connection member 10 attaches directly to the media stacking system. For example, the connection member 10 may include a planar connection surface 20 a that engages a surface of the media stacking system. The planar connection surface 20 a may connect to and/or align the stacking tab device 200 with respect to the media stacking system. Further, in some examples, the first tab member 11, the second tab member 12, and the third tab member 23 are flexible and made from mylar, and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, in some examples, the first tab member 11 extends downward from the connection member 10 to form a first angle ⊖₁ therewith. The second tab member 12 extends downward from the connection member 10 to form a second angle ⊖₂ therewith. The second angle ⊖₂ is less than the first angle ⊖₁. The third tab member 23 extends downward from the connection member 10 to form a third angle ⊖₃ therewith substantially equal to the first angle ⊖₁. The second tab member 12 is disposed in between the first tab member 11 and the third tab member 23.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, in some examples, the first tab member 11 forms a first slanted surface 21 a having a first slope and the second tab member 12 forms a second slanted surface 22 a having a second slope which is greater than the first slope with respect to a line normal to and downward from a planar connection surface 20 a of the connection member 10. The third tab member 23 forms a third slanted surface 23 a having a third slope which is substantially equal to the first slope. In operation, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, the first tab member 11 contacts a media. Subsequently, the second tab member 12 receives the media from the first tab member 11 and guides the media to an output region.

That is, the first and third tab members 11 and 23 may be oriented to Include a shallower slope to effectively act on curled ends of the media. Whereas, the second tab member 12 may be oriented at a steeper slope to effectively direct the media into the output region and to compress the media stack. Further, an obtuse intermediate angle ⊖₁ is formed along a media path between the first tab member 11 and the second tab member 12 to reduce the angle at which the media contacts the second tab member 12 to reduce handoff errors, noise and Jams.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a media slacking system according to an example. Referring to FIG. 4, a media stacking system 401 includes a frame 44, a media processor 45, a media transport assembly 48, an output region 47, and at least one stacking tab device 400. The frame 44 may include a housing and/or parts of the media stacking system 401. The media processor 45 processes the media. For example, the media processor 45 may include a print engine to form images on media. The print engine may include photosensitive drums, intermediate transfer belts, printheads, and the like. The media transport assembly 48 transports the media. For example, the media transport assembly 48 may include an output feeder including rollers to direct the media to the at least one stacking tab device 400. The output region 47 stacks the media therein. For example, the output region 47 may include an output tray and/or an output bin, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 4, at least one stacking tab device 400 is coupled to the frame 44. The stacking tab device 400 receives the media from the media transport assembly 48 The stacking tab device 400 includes a first tab member 11 and a second tab member 12. The first tab member 11 extends from the frame 44 to form a first angle therewith. The second tab member 12 extends from the frame 44 to form a second angle therewith. The second angle is less than the first angle. Consequently, the first tab member 11 contacts a media received from the media transport assembly 48, Subsequently, the second tab member 12 receives and guides the media from the first tab member 11 to the output region 47.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a portion of the media stacking system of FIG. 4 including a stacking tab device according to an example. FIGS. 6A-6D are schematic views illustrating an operation of the media stacking system of FIG. 5 according to examples. Referring to FIG. 5, in some examples, the stacking tab device 400 also includes a third tab member 23. The third tab member 23 extends from the frame 44 to form a third angle ⊖₃ therewith substantially equal to the first angle ⊖₁ and greater than the second angle ⊖₂. The second tab member 12 may be disposed in between the first tab member 11 and the third tab member 23. The second tab member 12 may also include an angled end portion 22 a to limit the media from being stacked above the second tab member 12.

In operation, a media m is directed by the media transport assembly 48 to contact the first tab member 11 as illustrated in FIG. 6A. Subsequently, the first tab member 11 directs the media m to the second tab member 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6B. The obtuse intermediate angle ⊖₁ formed between the first and second tab members 11 and 12 enables the media m to pass from the first tab member 11 to tie second tab member 12 in a smooth and uninterrupted manner to reduce the angle at which the media contacts the second tab member 12. That is, the obtuse intermediate angle ⊖₁ reduces the angle at which the media m contacts the second tab member 12. Subsequently, the media is directed onto the media stack in the output region 47 by the second tab member 12 as illustrated in FIG. 6C.

Lastly, the media m is compressed along with the media stack in the output region 47. That is, as the media stack gets taller, the respective end curls are compressed by the second tab member 12. Thus, the next incoming media will have room to get above the media stack. Further, at some point, as the media stack gets high, the leading edge of the incoming media will come in above the stack and also deflect the second tab member 12. Consequently, the second tab member 12 is pushed up by the leading edge of the media to let in an additional media and pushes back down on the curled trailing end of the respective media.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a media stacking system according to an example, in some examples, the members, assemblies, and the like, previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 1-8 may be used to implement the method of operating a media stacking system 400 of FIGS. 5-6D. In block S710, media is processed by a media processor, in block S711, the media is transported by a media transport assembly, in block S712, the media from the media transport assembly is received by a first tab member of a stacking tab device coupled to a frame to form a first angle therewith. In block S713, the media from the first tab member is received by a second tab member of the stacking tab device coupled to the frame to form a second angle therewith that is less than the first angle to reduce an angle in which the second tab member receives the media. That is, the obtuse intermediate angle reduces the angle at which the media contacts the second tab member.

In block S714, the media is guided to an output region by the second tab member to place the media in a stackable arrangement therein. In some examples, the method may also include compressing the media with respect to each other in the output region disposed in the stackable arrangement by the second tab member. The method may also include deflecting the second tab member upward by a respective media guided into the output region by the second tab member to increase space in the output region therefor.

If is to be understood that the flowchart of FIG. 7 illustrates architecture, functionality, and/or operation of examples of the present disclosure. If embodied in software, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that induces one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical functions). Although the flowchart of FIG. 7 illustrates a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may he rearranged relative to the order illustrated. Also, two or more blocks illustrated in succession in FIG. 7 may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof that are not intended to limit the scope of the general inventive concept. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used with other examples and that not all examples have all of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the disclosure and/or claims, “including but not necessarily limited to.”

It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the general inventive concept and which are described for illustrative purposes. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the general inventive concept is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stacking tab device usable with a media system, the stacking tab device comprising: a connection member to connect to a media stacking system; a first tab member extending downward from the connection member to form a first angle therewith, the first tab member to contact a media; and a second tab member extending downward from the connection member to form a second angle therewith less than the first angle, the second tab member to receive the media from the first tab member and guide the media to an output region.
 2. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the first tab member forms a first slanted surface having a first slope and the second tab member forms a second slanted surface having a second slope which Is greater than the first slope with respect to a line normal to and downward from a planar connection surface of the connection member.
 3. The stacking tab device of claim 1, further comprising: a third tab member extending downward from the connection member to form the third angle therewith substantially equal to the first angle, the third tab member forms a third slanted surface having a third slope which is substantially equal to the first slope.
 4. The stacking tab device of claim 3, wherein the second tab member is disposed in between the first tab member and the third tab member.
 5. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the second tab member includes an angled end portion to limit the media from being stacked above the second tab member.
 8. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the first tab member and the second tab member are integrated with each other.
 7. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the first tab member and the second tab member are flexible.
 8. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the stacking tab device is formed of mylar.
 9. The stacking tab device of claim 1, wherein the connection member includes a planar connection surface to connect directly to the media stacking system.
 10. A media stacking system, comprising; a frame: a media processor to process the media; a media transport assembly to transport the media; and an output region to stack the media therein; and at least one stacking tab device coupled to the frame, the stacking tab device to receive the media from the media transport assembly including; a first tab member to extend from the frame to form a first angle therewith, the First tab member to contact the media received from the media transport assembly; and a second tab member to extend from the frame to form a second angle therewith less than the first angle, the second tab member to receive and guide the media from the first tab member to the output region.
 11. The media stacking system of claim 10, wherein the stacking tab device further comprises: a third tab member to extend from the connection member to form a third angle therewith substantially equal to the first angle; and wherein the second tab member is disposed in between the first tab member and the third tab member.
 12. The media stacking system of claim 10, wherein the second tab member further comprises; an angled end portion to limit the media from being stacked above the second tab member.
 13. A method of operating a media stacking system, the method comprising: processing media by a media processor; transporting the media by a media transport assembly: receiving the media from the media transport assembly by a first tab member of a stacking tab device coupled to a frame to form a first angle therewith; receiving the media from the first tab member by a second tab member of the stacking tab device coupled to the frame to form a second angle therewith that is less than the first angle to reduce an angle in which the second tab member receives the media; and guiding the media to an output region by the second tab member to place the media in a stackable arrangement therein .
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: compressing the media with respect to each other in the output region disposed in the stackable arrangement by the second tab member.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: deflecting the second tab member upward by a respective media guided into the output region by the second tab member to increase space in the output region therefor. 